Anastasya Lavenia Y, Jakarta – The Indonesian Finance Ministry explained the reasons behind setting the meal costs for ministerial-level coordination meetings, deputy ministers, or echelon I at Rp118,000 per person. This budget is stipulated in Minister of Finance Regulation (PMK) Number 32 of 2025 concerning the Standard Input Cost for the Fiscal Year 2026.
The Director of Budgeting System of the Directorate General of Budget of the Finance Ministry, Lisbon Sirait, explained that the Rp118,000 cost already includes an 11 percent tax. So, when deducted, the meal cost is around Rp 87,000. "So actually, that cost is not too high for Jakarta standards," said Lisbon at a media briefing in the Ministry of Finance office on Monday, June 2, 2025.
According to Lisbon, the figure aligns with the needs of ministerial-level coordination meetings, which usually invite guests from abroad or other institutions. He also emphasized that the cost is the maximum limit that cannot be exceeded, and can only be given for meetings that exceed two hours.
Lisbon also mentioned that at the Finance Ministry, sometimes meals are not provided even though the meeting duration exceeds two hours. This is done to support budget efficiency directed by President Prabowo Subianto. "Especially at the Budget Directorate General, it always sets an example," he said.
Aside from meal costs, Ministerial Regulation No. 32 of 2025 also regulates snack costs of Rp53,000, so when totaled, the total consumption costs reach Rp171,000 per person. Besides ministerial-level meetings, this regulation also regulates consumption costs for regular meetings. Each province has a different budget amount.
Central Kalimantan is the province with the lowest budget, at Rp42,000 per person for meals and Rp16,000 per person for snacks. Meanwhile, Papua Highlands Province has the highest consumption costs at Rp93,000 per person for meals and Rp42,000 for snacks.